Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Jobs: Witham

Monday 5 February 2024 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Office for National Statistics estimates that 36,000 jobs were provided by employers in Witham in 2022.
  • Priti Patel thanked businesses in Witham for their efforts in employing young people and providing apprenticeships.
  • The employment rate in Witham is 81%, exceeding the national average.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Priti Patel Con Witham
Economy Employment
Context

The MP is seeking an estimate of the number of jobs provided by businesses within her constituency, highlighting the importance of local economic health.

Question

What estimate has been made of the number of jobs provided by businesses in Witham constituency?

Answer from Mel Stride

The Office for National Statistics estimates that 36,000 jobs were provided by employers in Witham in 2022.

Answered
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Q2 Priti Patel Con Witham
Employment Business & Trade
Context

During Apprenticeship Week, the MP is highlighting the efforts of businesses in her constituency to employ young people through apprenticeships. She asks for a strategic approach to improve skills and upskilling in certain sectors.

Question

As it is Apprenticeship Week, will the Secretary of State join me in thanking businesses in Witham for everything that they are doing to employ youngsters and put them on that apprenticeship pathway? Those businesses, however, are crying out for a labour market strategy that will help them to harness the skills and the upskilling that they need in certain sectors. Would the Secretary of State be prepared to advance that, and push it, across other Departments?

Answer from Mel Stride

I congratulate my right hon. Friend on the extraordinary work that she does locally to promote apprenticeships. I believe she was involved in a jobs fair on 24 January, hosted by Reed, which was highly successful. The employment rate in her constituency is 81%, well above the national average, which I put down almost entirely to the work that she is doing. She asked how we would proceed. We already have swaps, bootcamps and returnerships, but I am indeed looking at specific areas of the labour market, particularly in the context of migration changes, where we may be able to do more on a strategic basis.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment or timeline for advancing the strategy across other Departments

How: Looking At Specific Areas

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